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Hi everyone.
As I'm sure all of you are, I'm excited for you guys to see the final 4 submissions. They are all very creative and really good. I've really been impressed with the contestants this year. Everyone did a great job. In the end, I recommended two of the four for your final consideration, and I specifically recommended one of them to be the winner. But in the end the voting is up to you. I am certain you will like them and I am just as certain you will particularly enjoy James' brilliant commentary on the four submissions.
I wanted to take a second to say something that I think makes Paizo and Pathfinder great. I have long thought that it is the obligation of the publisher of D&D (and who is kidding who, I feel strongly that Pathfinder is both the moral and historical successor to D&D, but I don't want to start that debate) to teach people how to create great adventures. The old Dungeon magazine did that by example and Paizo does that now with the APs and modules. I don't know that adventure design has ever existed at a higher level than it does now under Paizo's watch. So take some time and really dig through James' comments, not only as comments on contestants, but also as thoughts of one of the pre-eminent designers/developers in the history of fantasy roleplaying. It is really a pleasure to see design in action and I hope the fans take the chance to learn about adventure design as a byproduct of this great contest.
So my hat (if I wore one) is off to the contestants this year and to Paizo for this amazing contest. And I can't wait to see what all of you think.
Clark
Ready to be amazed.
Aye, excited. I forgot all about it until yesterday and now can't get it out of my mind. All four have done such a good job and knowing one of these will be added to my shelf soon is just cool. :)
I am absolutely pumped to see what James has to say about the entries. This has been a fantastic contest and it will be sad to see it go.
A little under 2 hours now, very excited to see who sparks my imagination, wins my vote, and wins the who she-bang.
Excitement level rising even higher!
Very cool stuff this year. Even though I recommended two and didn't recommend the other two, all four had really interesting stuff going on.
Contributor; Publisher, Kobold Press; RPG Superstar Judge
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I noted this on my comments for one of the four, but it applies to all the entries: at this level, a lot comes down to preferences, how choices match up with a publisher's plans, what elements of a professional design a judge values most highly, which hooks shine brightest for voters.
Every one of these four pitches cleared a very high bar just to get here. The texts all reflect their author's strengths and weaknesses, of course--but every single one of the Top 4 has a LOT more strengths than weaknesses.
There is tons of creativity and talent on display in this contest, and this year is no exception. My thanks to all the Top 4 for making this round difficult to judge, and for giving us four such very different ways to design a great adventure.
Yeah, that's how you can tell you've got four really talented individuals. Voting sure isn't easy. I've been looking over these for the last two days and still haven't made a final decision.
Very tough this year. All four finalists came up with a concept I'd be willing to play.
And that's a Good Thing [tm], in my estimation.